Ways to Prevent Cancer
of the Colon and Formation of Polyps

Effective ways to prevent cancer of the colon start with prevention of polyp growth. Always remember that polyp formation in your bowel and rectum increases your risk for tumor development.

How can you prevent polyps?

1. Avoid unhealthy foods, especially meat

Examine your food choices. Are they healthy? A diet high in processed meat -- such as corned beef, salami, or hotdogs -- is a no-no.

Eating too much red meat encourages formation of polyps. If you’re worried where to get your protein, you can get it from fish or plant sources like beans instead.

Of course, you don’t have to totally deprive yourself of red meat. Have some meat but sparingly. Twice a month will be fine. If you like having meat once a week, go for small portions. Having it once in a while will prevent your body from craving it.

If you really have to have your meat, I recommend that you choose fresh meat over processed meat. When meat is processed into corned beef, it contains a lot of preservatives.

2. Eat more vegetables, fruits and fiber

Plant foods should be the main part of your meal. Put more veggies, fruits, and fiber on your plate. All are anti-cancer foods. Always include a plate of fresh green salad in your daily meal. Drizzle it with extra virgin olive oil. The oil is extremely rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Cancer prevention is one of the health benefits you will enjoy from olive oil.

For dessert, always choose fresh fruits instead of ice cream, for example. Vegetable and fruits are the best sources of fiber. They also contain thousands of phytochemicals such as saponins. Phytochemicals protect your colon walls.

Foods rich in fiber have a direct cleansing benefits on your colon. They can prevent constipation and help you move stools out of your system faster.

Papaya is one fruit that is particularly good as stool softener. It can help prevent development of polyps and even tumor. It is one of the foods high in vitamin C.

3. Lose weight

Yes, it is important that you watch your weight. If you're above what's supposed to be your body mass index (BMI), you should lose weight. It is one of the ways to prevent cancer in your colon.

Higher insulin and estrogen levels are one of the dangers of being overweight. These hormones can trigger formation of polyps in your bowel and rectum.

Related Page:

The Link Between Cancer and Obesity

It's not easy to lose weight but it's not impossible. You can do it. Change your diet. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Limit your intake of processed foods such as pastries and red meat. Stop being a couch potato!

4. Be physically active

Do you need a reason to motivate you to get up and move? Here's a good one: Regular physical exercise can prevent colon polyps!

When you exercise, your hormone levels are stabilized at just the right levels.

The best part is you don't have to do strenuous type of exercise to prevent polyp and tumor formation. You need not take a sport. Just something as simple as walking will do wonders. You can do it daily even when you are working. For example, walk to the next office instead of using the telephone. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

5. Limit your alcohol intake

Yes, I didn't say stop drinking because one drink once in a while isn't harmful. It is excessive drinking of alcohol that leads to formation of colorectal polyps and tumor not only in your bowels but also in your liver. If you're a male, limit your intake to 2 glasses at most. For females, a glass is enough.

6. Enhance your immune system.

Your immune system is your built-in security guard to prevent abnormal cells from ravaging your body. It's important that you build it up.

How to boost your immune system?

Live a healthy lifestyle by doing all the steps outlined above, by getting enough sleep every night, by avoiding too much sugar and by taking supplements such as Ganoderma Extract that serve as food of your immune system.

7. Detoxify your colon

Just as you brush your teeth to clean them, you also need to clean your bowels. This is important especially if you're a heavy meat-eater, you have a family history of colon problems such as precancerous polyps and you often experience irregular bowel movements.

If you think you have to go to the doctor for a professional cleansing, let me assure that you need not to. You can do natural colon cleansing at home. It is one of the most effective ways to prevent cancer of the colon and rectum.

Related Pages You Might Like:

Warning Signs of Colon Cancer | Causes of Colon Tumor | Stages of Colon Cancer | What is Colon Cleansing

Ways to Prevent Cancer in Your Colon

Cancer Prevention Home > Cancer of the Colon > Ways to Prevent Colon Problems

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